25 years ago: Professor assures public KU reactor site safe

In the wake of concern over international news on the Soviet nuclear accident, Lawrence residents were assured as to the safety of the 25-year-old research reactor at Kansas University. “The fuel has been shipped away and the reactor at this moment is just an empty tank,” said Harold Rosson, the KU engineering professor who had coordinated the dismantling process. “In other words, it’s no longer a reactor.” The fuel had been removed in late January and early February and had been shipped to a reprocessing plant in South Carolina. Very little residual radiation remained in the tank. “It’s not hazardous,” said Rosson. “It’s just a great big piece of concrete and it would be expensive to remove, so I expect it will stay in its place for a long time.”

Prof. Lee F. Young had been appointed acting dean of KU’s William Allen White School of Journalism, to assume duties on July 1. The current dean, Del Brinkman, had accepted the post of KU’s vice chancellor for academic affairs.